[BUG] Shared Grafana Dashboard Fails To Load Panels Due To Undefined $TimeZone Variable In InfluxDB Queries

Apr 22, 2025 by ADMIN 108 views

BUG: Shared Grafana Dashboard Fails to Load Panels Due to Undefined $TimeZone Variable in InfluxDB Queries

Introduction

Grafana is a powerful tool for creating and sharing dashboards, providing insights into various data sources. However, when accessing shared dashboards via public links, several panels may fail to load due to unresolved variables in InfluxDB queries. In this article, we will delve into the issue of shared Grafana dashboards failing to load panels due to an undefined $TimeZone variable in InfluxDB queries.

Describe the Bug

When accessing the shared Grafana dashboard via a public link, several panels fail to load. The error shown in the panels is related to an unresolved $TimeZone variable in the InfluxDB queries. This results in "No data in response" and visible error messages in the affected panels. The error message displayed in the Grafana UI is:

InfluxDB returned error: error parsing query: unable to find time zone $TimeZone

Logs

There is no error in the server logs, but the Grafana UI displays the error message mentioned above. This indicates that the issue is not related to the server-side configuration but rather with the Grafana UI and its interaction with the InfluxDB queries.

Screenshots

The following screenshots demonstrate the issue:

Environment

The issue was encountered in a Docker environment, and a VPN was not used. The user had reviewed the README and tried to troubleshoot the issue before reporting it.

Additional Context

This issue only occurs when the dashboard is viewed through public sharing links or snapshots. It seems the $TimeZone variable is not included or resolved in the shared context, which leads to InfluxDB query errors in panels depending on that variable.

Possible Causes

There are several possible causes for this issue:

Inconsistent Variable Resolution: The $TimeZone variable may not be resolved consistently across different environments, leading to errors in InfluxDB queries.
InfluxDB Query Configuration: The InfluxDB query configuration may not be properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable, resulting in errors.
Grafana UI Configuration: The Grafana UI configuration may not be properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable, leading to errors.

Troubleshooting Steps

To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

Review the README: Review the README file to ensure that all relevant variables are properly set up.
Check InfluxDB Query Configuration: Check the InfluxDB query configuration to ensure that it is properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable.
Check Grafana UI Configuration: Check the Grafana UI configuration to ensure that it is properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable.
Test with Different Environments: Test the dashboard with different environments to ensure that the issue is not specific to a particular environment.
Check for Consistent Variable Resolution: Check for consistent variable resolution across different environments to ensure that the issue is not related to inconsistent variable resolution.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the shared Grafana dashboard fails to load panels due to an undefined $TimeZone variable in InfluxDB queries. This issue is specific to public sharing links or snapshots and is not related to the server-side configuration. To troubleshoot this issue, review the README, check the InfluxDB query configuration, check the Grafana UI configuration, test with different environments, and check for consistent variable resolution.

Recommendations

To resolve this issue, follow these recommendations:

**Include the $TimeZone Variable**: Include the `$ TimeZone` variable in the InfluxDB queries to ensure that it is properly resolved.
Configure InfluxDB Query: Configure the InfluxDB query to handle the $TimeZone variable properly.
Configure Grafana UI: Configure the Grafana UI to handle the $TimeZone variable properly.
Test with Different Environments: Test the dashboard with different environments to ensure that the issue is resolved.

By following these recommendations, you can resolve the issue of shared Grafana dashboards failing to load panels due to an undefined $TimeZone variable in InfluxDB queries.
Q&A: Shared Grafana Dashboard Fails to Load Panels Due to Undefined $TimeZone Variable in InfluxDB Queries

Introduction

In our previous article, we discussed the issue of shared Grafana dashboards failing to load panels due to an undefined $TimeZone variable in InfluxDB queries. In this article, we will provide a Q&A section to address common questions and concerns related to this issue.

Q: What is the cause of the issue?

A: The issue is caused by an undefined $TimeZone variable in InfluxDB queries. This variable is not resolved consistently across different environments, leading to errors in InfluxDB queries.

Q: Why does the issue only occur when accessing the dashboard via public sharing links or snapshots?

A: The issue only occurs when accessing the dashboard via public sharing links or snapshots because the $TimeZone variable is not included or resolved in the shared context. This leads to InfluxDB query errors in panels depending on that variable.

Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: To troubleshoot this issue, follow these steps:

Review the README: Review the README file to ensure that all relevant variables are properly set up.
Check InfluxDB Query Configuration: Check the InfluxDB query configuration to ensure that it is properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable.
Check Grafana UI Configuration: Check the Grafana UI configuration to ensure that it is properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable.
Test with Different Environments: Test the dashboard with different environments to ensure that the issue is not specific to a particular environment.
Check for Consistent Variable Resolution: Check for consistent variable resolution across different environments to ensure that the issue is not related to inconsistent variable resolution.

Q: How can I resolve this issue?

A: To resolve this issue, follow these recommendations:

**Include the $TimeZone Variable**: Include the `$ TimeZone` variable in the InfluxDB queries to ensure that it is properly resolved.
Configure InfluxDB Query: Configure the InfluxDB query to handle the $TimeZone variable properly.
Configure Grafana UI: Configure the Grafana UI to handle the $TimeZone variable properly.
Test with Different Environments: Test the dashboard with different environments to ensure that the issue is resolved.

Q: What are the possible causes of the issue?

A: The possible causes of the issue are:

Inconsistent Variable Resolution: The $TimeZone variable may not be resolved consistently across different environments, leading to errors in InfluxDB queries.
InfluxDB Query Configuration: The InfluxDB query configuration may not be properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable, resulting in errors.
Grafana UI Configuration: The Grafana UI configuration may not be properly set up to handle the $TimeZone variable, leading to errors.

Q: How can I prevent this issue from occurring in the future?

A: To prevent this issue from occurring in the future, follow these best practices:

**Include the $TimeZone Variable**: Include the `$ TimeZone` variable in the InfluxDB queries to ensure that it is properly resolved.
Configure InfluxDB Query: Configure the InfluxDB query to handle the $TimeZone variable properly.
Configure Grafana UI: Configure the Grafana UI to handle the $TimeZone variable properly.
Test with Different Environments: Test the dashboard with different environments to ensure that the issue is resolved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the shared Grafana dashboard fails to load panels due to an undefined $TimeZone variable in InfluxDB queries. This issue is specific to public sharing links or snapshots and is not related to the server-side configuration. By following the troubleshooting steps and recommendations provided in this article, you can resolve this issue and prevent it from occurring in the future.